How to Replace Bicycle Hub Bearings

The bearings in your bicycle hubs allow the wheel to spin smoothly. Without them your bike would grind to a halt every time you stopped pedaling, making riding very difficult. Unfortunately, worn-out or old bearings can have the same effect. The immediate response may be to purchase new wheels for your bike, but you can save money by replacing the bearings in the one you already have. Learn how to replace the worn-out bearings in your bicycle hubs so that you can keep riding safely and efficiently.

Things You'll Need

  • 15mm cone wrench
  • 17mm cone wrench
  • Bearings
  • Bearing grease
  • Rag
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the wheel that needs new bearings from the frame of your bike by releasing the quick-release lever and sliding the wheel out of the dropouts away from the bike. If your bike uses axle nuts instead of a quick-release system, loosen the axle nuts, using a 15mm wrench to release the wheel.

    • 2

      Attach a 15mm cone wrench to the axle cone closest to the hub body. This will allow you to keep the axle from spinning. Use a 17mm cone wrench to twist the outermost axle cone counterclockwise. Spin the axle cone all the way off the axle, then remove the 15mm cone in the same manner.

    • 3

      Slide the axle out of the hub and set it aside. Remove the bearings from inside both sides of the hub and set them aside as well. Be careful not to lose any and count them as you remove them so you know how many to put back in later. When all the bearings have been removed, wipe out the two bearing races of the hub with a clean rag to remove the old bearing grease.

    • 4

      Apply a liberal amount of grease to both bearing races -- one on either side of the hub. Set the new bearings in place where the old ones were, using the grease to stick together so they don't fall out. When you have all of the bearings in place, slide the axle back through the hub.

    • 5

      Twist the 15mm and 17mm hub cones back onto the axle clockwise until they stop spinning against the bearings. Attach a 15mm cone wrench to the one closest to the hub and a 17mm cone wrench to the one closest to the end of the axle. Tighten the two cones against each other to ensure they won't unscrew while you are riding.

    • 6

      Slide your wheels back onto the bike and take the bike for a test ride. The bearings should feel smooth and noticeably faster than the old worn-out ones you replaced.